Payola's Back!!

[drock89]

Sugarland, in its 36th week, jumps to #2 with +566 plays!! Here's a break-down of some stations:

- Houston – lw 10 >> tw 65 >> +55 plays
- Kansas City – lw 27 >> tw 56 >> +29 plays
- Sarasota – lw 24 >> tw 50 >> +26 plays
- Portland – lw 41 >> tw 62 >> +21 plays
- Baton Rouge (WYNK) – lw 30 >> tw 48 >> +18 plays
- Albuquerque – lw 34 >> tw 49 >> +15 plays

What do you think? Red flags are up for me.

[FrancineLangeInNY]

What makes it so suspicious?
Some songs take quite a while to build up steam (not saying there is or isn't payola involved)...
Didn't FAFA take forever to reach its peak, and when it did, wasn't it the most spinned song on Country Radio for the whole year?

[ListenToMe]

It never went away...Reba and Terri Clarke have always been suspicious...

[WhySoSerious?]

ListenToMe said:

It never went away...Reba and Terri Clarke have always been suspicious...

Always?

Probably is, but I don't even pay attention anymore because so many songs use it that others have to in able to compete.

[ListenToMe]

TCorey said:

Always?

Probably is, but I don't even pay attention anymore because so many songs use it that others have to in able to compete.

Ocassionally/sometimes ;)

[Bigchief]

What's a little cruise for a PD hurt?

[jimmy74747]

Sugarland's album sales have been climbing, and most people I know wh olisten to country love this song. the same can't be said for other songs accused of payola of the past year,

[Dustin J.]

At least with KKBQ in Houston, the spins are evenly spread throughout the day. The one that looks "suspicious" to me is KWJJ in Portland who, although they are only +21 from last week, they have 32 (of 62) spins overnight (6 am, 9 mid, 6 pm, 9 eve).

Of couse, with all the "stuff" that goes on anymore, even THAT isn't too suspicious to me.

TW lw +/- ovn am mid pm eve
KWJJ-FM Portland Country 62 41 21 32 6 9 6 9 0.370

[musicbuff78]

Payola my @ss. I seriously doubt that a label would use Payola for a new acts debut single. I could understand Payola being used in the case of Reba because for the last decade, she has just sucked.

Another song that took forever to peak was Gary Alan's Smokerings in the Dark and I doubt that was due to Payola.

I am sure the increase of Sugarland's debut has been the reason for the increase of spins of Baby Girl.

[mbgriffith1]

I am from Houston, and I GUARANTEE you that there is no payola for KKBQ. They are one of the most annoying stations in the country... they have like 7 songs at a time that they play... and they play them ALL THE TIME so that you get sick of them. And then they will totally and completely ignore some top 20 songs. And... a song can be played 59 times one week, 7 the next, 35 the next, and 62 the next. Its so random, and it really sucks. What happened with Sugarland is they completely ignored it until it got top 10, and then played it 62 times a week for two weeks and then almost completely dropped it off their playlist and then this past week they've been playing it all the time.

By the way, I LOVE THIS SONG AND THIS GROUP!!!!! BEST CD OF THE YEAR!!!! (tied with LAW and Chely)

[musicfan_84]

I agree, no payola here. The callouts and research for this song are amazing... people are loving it.

[reidster]

it seems that Mercury uses Payola for all of there artists except Shania...

[drock89]

reidster said:

it seems that Mercury uses Payola for all of there artists except Shania...

[mbgriffith1]

reidster said:

it seems that Mercury uses Payola for all of there artists except Shania...

You're an idiot. If that's the case, then how come Terri Clark's last single didn't do well and it took like 40 weeks for Sugarland's song to get to the top? Sugarland's success is one of the best stories out of country music in years... finally a talented group getting rewarded without a hype machine.

[FrancineLangeInNY]

reidster said:

it seems that Mercury uses Payola for all of there artists except Shania...

Now they aren't using it, but what about back in 99, when all of Shania's mediocre pop drivel hit the top of the charts?
We are talking songs as awful as That Don'T Impress Me much and From This Moment ON...ridiculous lyrics, derivative melodies and hackneyed sentiments packaged in ultra-polished bubblegum poptry...terrible music any way you looked at it and it still dominated the radio charts...
Was that Payola too?
Or is Shania the only "artist" who can't be accused of that?

[Lovincountry]

I love Sugarland's song and did the first time I heard it!
I don't believe payola is needed on this one!

[Zazie]

It's wrong to accuse people of criminal activity unless you have evidence. It's cowardly to do it anonymously. Do you think it doesn't matter? These are human beings you are attacking behind their backs.

This thread should be pulled and the proponents of baseless, anonymous accusations should be sent to bed without any supper.

Aren't there any standards on this board? If this thread's still here on Monday, I'll invite the management of the radio stations mentioned here to comment on the statements made in this thread. Let's open the windows, let in some fresh air, and see what happens to cowardly, anonymous accusers who have no evidence.

Seems to me if you stand by your own statements, a little open discussion would make you happy. Or maybe you'd rather back down, apologize, and change the subject....

[bamafan2102]

I hated Somebody with all ounce of hate that I could muster for a song and hated that it became number one. With that being said, I hate this song worse. Sorry for those who like it but the way she says baby just grates on me. I got a copy of this album from a friend at work and only made it through the first song.

It's amazing to me how what one person just loves, another person really hates. I guess that's why this board is so popular.

I promise to give the album another listen just for the sake of debate but I will skip Baby Girl.

[FrancineLangeInNY]

Zazie said:

It's wrong to accuse people of criminal activity unless you have evidence. It's cowardly to do it anonymously. Do you think it doesn't matter? These are human beings you are attacking behind their backs.

This thread should be pulled and the proponents of baseless, anonymous accusations should be sent to bed without any supper.

Aren't there any standards on this board? If this thread's still here on Monday, I'll invite the management of the radio stations mentioned here to comment on the statements made in this thread. Let's open the windows, let in some fresh air, and see what happens to cowardly, anonymous accusers who have no evidence.

Seems to me if you stand by your own statements, a little open discussion would make you happy. Or maybe you'd rather back down, apologize, and change the subject....

I absolutely agree.

[drock89]

I call what I see. A 35 week-old single from a debut group on a label infamous for payola gaining 550+ spins in one week throws up red flags around here after the 'inccidents' with Reba, Terri, Sara, etc.

I hope I am falsly accusing them. I don't like payola and it screws the merit of the chart.


Edit:

[FrancineLangeInNY]

WOW!!!
It's been on the chart for 35 years????
Talk about playing recurrents!!!! :o

[sevansfan]

Shaniagotchagood:

I don't remember any "incidents" with Sara. There never were any signifigant leaps as you say, and if you want proof that its not a payola, go take a look at how many spins it is still getting. It peaked what 5 months ago and it is still the #8 most played recurrent! That should prove to you that radio stations are playing the song because it is a good song and people request to hear it!!!! Also I don't believe this crap about Sugarland either, they are a legitimate group and EXTREMELY deserving of a #1 with this single!

Do you not believe that any female to score a #1 does it legitimately? It hasn't been done in such a long time they must of paid to get to the #1 spot! right? Or maybe you are just extremely jealous that Shania is incapable of doing so anymore.

Devin

[drock89]

sevansfan said:

Shaniagotchagood:

I don't remember any "incidents" with Sara. There never were any signifigant leaps as you say, and if you want proof that its not a payola, go take a look at how many spins it is still getting. It peaked what 5 months ago and it is still the #8 most played recurrent! That should prove to you that radio stations are playing the song because it is a good song and people request to hear it!!!! Also I don't believe this crap about Sugarland either, they are a legitimate group and EXTREMELY deserving of a #1 with this single!

Do you not believe that any female to score a #1 does it legitimately? It hasn't been done in such a long time they must of paid to get to the #1 spot! right? Or maybe you are just extremely jealous that Shania is incapable of doing so anymore.

Devin

Nope, none of that. But if you don't believe me, pull up the "Suds" thread on this board and you will see that everyone was suspicious. And trust me, I know that radio stations still play the heck out of it - my station has to be a leader.

I didn't mean to cause so much controversy over this. It looks suspicious. And you can't say that they are legitimet because the artists don't agree to it, the labels just do it. It's sad...

[2shane7]

SHAME ON YOU and your blatant sexism.  How dare you single out only our talented ladies of country?  First of all, there was no payola surrounding "Suds in the Bucket" ... for God's sake, it had a longer run at the top on R&R than Billboard ...

Personally, I think it's horrible that you single out these women, while outright ignoring the RUMORED incidents  of payola surrounding Toby Keith ("Stays In Mexico") and Blake Shelton ("Some Beach").

Now, before TK and BS fans start attacking me, please note that I don't believe ANY payola rumors ... not Reba, not Toby, not Terri, not Blake ... not until I see evidence in a court of law ... but I just thought it was a shame to bring up the examples where the women were accused and leave out those targeting the men.

For someone who says they are a Shania fan, this is shameful.  Why don't you just hold up a sign saying "No women allowed in country music."

Well you know what ... it won't work ... with the latest successes of Jo Dee, Leann, Lee Ann, and Reba, this year's going to be even hotter for the ladies, sexism or no sexism.

[musicfan_84]

I'm 99.9% sure there was no payola for "Suds." Her spins increased legitimately and advanced to #1 after Keith started falling. Here's the thread on "Suds." There are only a few posts about payola, and no one said anything for sure. So I'm not sure I would say there were "a lot" if posts/people who thought it was payola.

pulsemusic.proboards12.com/index.cgi?board=country&thread=1078799305&action=display&start=0

[drock89]

2shane7 said:

SHAME ON YOU and your blatant sexism. How dare you single out only our talented ladies of country? First of all, there was no payola surrounding "Suds in the Bucket" ... for God's sake, it had a longer run at the top on R&R than Billboard ...

Personally, I think it's horrible that you single out these women, while outright ignoring the RUMORED incidents of payola surrounding Toby Keith ("Stays In Mexico") and Blake Shelton ("Some Beach").

Now, before TK and BS fans start attacking me, please note that I don't believe ANY payola rumors ... not Reba, not Toby, not Terri, not Blake ... not until I see evidence in a court of law ... but I just thought it was a shame to bring up the examples where the women were accused and leave out those targeting the men.

For someone who says they are a Shania fan, this is shameful. Why don't you just hold up a sign saying "No women allowed in country music."

Well you know what ... it won't work ... with the latest successes of Jo Dee, Leann, Lee Ann, and Reba, this year's going to be even hotter for the ladies, sexism or no sexism.

What are you talking about? I never stated anything. And I don't include the songs that didn't hit #1. I would much much much rather see a female get 20 #1s than having to hear Tim McGraw 1,000 times a day, trust me. And I also hope that country realizes that the women sell more and bring more to the format.

On Reba, Luke Lewis just admitted it at CRS. If that's not proof, I don't know what is.

On Sara, I don't know whether there was payola or not. But at the time, there were a lot of people that believed so. Like I said, dig up the thread.

And who knows who else gets payola..Kenny or Gretchen? Tim or Martina? George or Shania? God only knows how much is pumped into it.

I'm sorry I offended you. But if you stepped back and looked at it, it is still very suspicious.

[sevansfan]

About Sara- I did "dig up" the old thread 1 person mention "payola" only because her spins had increased to about 300! ummmmm how often does a song that reaches #1 not gain over 300 spins? There was NO PAYOLA FOR SUDS!

Devin

[Zazie]

shaniagotchagood said:

I call what I see.


Edit: 

Wow, you hide behind anonymity for your accusations but you want credit as someone who calls it like it is. What's next -- your unfounded opinions about which singers are drug dealers? Sexual predators? Do you set any limits for yourself?

Incidentally, there have been other "payola" posts on other threads. (I can remember Sara, Terri, Reba, Blake, and Darryl at various times have been suspected -- no doubt there were others.) I think most of us can see that it has to stop, and it might as well stop now. It wasn't in good taste ever, and it's not a good habit for board posters to develop.

[Topay]

I agree - I don't see this as a matter of payola.  But I have a comment about Sugarland that's a little off-topic, and I didn't feel like starting a new thread for just this one thought.

If I'm not mistaken, Matchbox Twenty took "If You're Gone" to #1 on Billboard's AC chart in its 40th chart week.  I'm pretty sure that's an all-format record for longest climb to #1. 

If Sugarland takes "Baby Girl" to #1 on the Country chart next week (April 9, its 38th chart week), it'll come just short of MB20's record.  The current Country record is 32 weeks, set by Tim McGraw's "My Next Thirty Years," which is looking to be upset if Sugarland can indeed go the distance.

[Deleted]

In a reply directly to the topic of this thread, I just have to say that Payola never went away.

Some labels have just gotten better at hiding it.

There are still some obvious cases of payola, but labels aren't as blatant about it as often as they were.

Expect that trend to continue, especially after the bad press over Reba's # 1 and other "questionable" # 1 songs.